help, my 850 is being a pain!

[mark]

If you're points are sparking, you probably need new condensors. Had the same problem on my 79 850. Condensors did the trick. Maybe wait for another post or two on the subject.

[rpickle]

Thanks Mark. It has new points and condensors. I was talking to a co-worker who had an 850 a long time ago. He said that I should try popping the gas cap. Said that if I filled the tank all of the way up and there is something amuck with the vent tube, then the bike would be starving for fuel. Easy enough to try.

Appreciate your insight.


Rick

[Anonymous]

If you are "spitting fire" out of one of the sets of points, you have a bad condensor. Before I got to the part about the spitting fire, I was going to mention that it is possible to get oil into the housing for the points through a bad seal which raises havoc with them. I was also going to mention that the vac hose to the fuel tap can get kinked as my one did the other day. Ya gotta love gs pauls remarks about knowing too much and going for the big problem instead of the simple ones, how true.

[rpickle]

When I first read Marks suggestion about the condensor, I immediately related it to fixing my overall problem, not the sparking even though the sparking is what he was talking about. I will switch condensors between 1-4 and 2-3 and see if the spark spitting follows. I am in hopes the poor running can will be attributed to the tank breather. If not, it will be back to the head scratch?!

Thanks a lot folks.


Rick

[rpickle]

I have tried riding it without the gas cap locked down. No change. I will dump the gas as soon as I get a chance. I am going to get another set of points and condensors too. Not sure what else would be giving me such a problem.

Just an update.

Rick

[Anonymous]

Note of caution here, Rick. Do one thing at a time and see what happens. If you make 2 or more changes at once, and fix the problem, you'll never know what it really was. Trust me on this one - been there and got way too many t-shirts.

[rpickle]

Thanks dodger. I can get a bit carried away. I am going to install an old set of condensors. Cannot imagine how a new set of points would be bad..... Is a frustrating problem.

Thanks again for the advice.


Rick

[inquisitive]

Many years ago I had a small Datsun that used a single set of points and condensor. I tuned it up on Saturday, put about 40 miles on it that night, and it refused to start the next day. I put the old condensor back in and used it for the next 10,000 miles. They can go bad after a very short time.

Also, you mentioned that you removed the vent lines on the carbs. Check for postings by Keith Krause on that subject. I'm not sure what their function is but I wouldn't leave them totaly open.

BTW, my 79 GS850G now has Dyna ignition and a sealed cover. Pricey but solid.

Mike

[rpickle]

Thanks Mike. I thought what I had read on the carb vents was to remove them. I have had them off for some time now and in that time frame it has run great and it has run like it does now. I've got an extra set of condensors, so will put them on when I get the chance. May be tomorrow, hopefully. I think if I get this worked out, the solidstate may be an upgrade down the road. I have a project gs1000g that if it pans out and runs well, I may keep it and sell off the 850. That decision is a ways off though.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Rick

[flyingace]

I went back to the original symptoms. I think it would be useful if you answered the following:
1. It runs OK at idle - does it run OK at a steady open throttle (say 3000K and above)?
2. Do you have compression info on the cylinders?
3. When you checked the timing, did the timing advance properly. I can't tell from the text.

[rpickle]

Hello flyingace. It runs OK at idle. Just reving the engine will induce a little backfire/miss. Taking it out and riding it (putting a load on it) really makes it miss and backfire.

I have not done any type of compresion check. Can do that this weekend, I guess.

When I checked timing, it was static only. I didn't put a light on it and check the advance. Something I can also check this weekend.

When I get these readings, I'll post back.
Thanks for your interest.

Rick

[rpickle]

Whoo whoooo!!!! Its ALIVE! Was the condensor for 1-4. Man!

Thanks everyone for your help!

There are several of you that mentioned the condensors! Appreciate it.

Are there better brands to buy or did I just get a bad apple. I probably didn't get 1000 miles out of it.

Thanks again.

Rick

[Anonymous]

None of them are worth more than a nickel - you just got a bad one. Glad to hear you worked it out